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{short description of image}   The site chosen for the London festival centre was on the south bank of the Thames between Westminster and Waterloo bridges. Badly damaged during the blitz, the area was bisected by Hungerford Bridge which bought rail passengers across the river into Charing Cross. The section of the site upstream of Hungerford Bridge was home to the LCC's County Hall but there was still room for a sizeable exhibition area. The downstream area had already been earmarked for London's new concert hall but would require a lot of clearing before construction on what was to become the Royal Festival Hall and the other areas of the temporary festival could be started.
The downstream section of the site is shown left. The large building to the right is the disused Lion Brewery, while the lighthouse-like structure is the Shot Tower - one of several towers throughout the country used for the production of lead shot.
The Lion Brewery had been established in 1837. Perhaps the most memorable thing about it was the large red lion that surmounted the parapet. Made of the artificial stone developed from a secret formula held by Eleanor Coade, the lion survived a fire in 1931 and the blitz, but in February 1949 he finally met his match when he was lifted down, repainted gloss red, and put on a plinth by the Waterloo Station Gate to the Festival site. He now stands proud, but not red, on a plinth at the southern end of Westminster Bridge.
The pictures right show the brewery in 1948 just before demolition, while the picture alongside shows the cleared brewery site being readied for the construction of the embankment wall and the Festival Hall.There were plans to demolish the Shot Tower, but in the end it was decided to leave it in situ and modify it for use as an exhibit during the Festival. In fact it lived on as a landmark until the early 60s when it was demolished to make way for the Queen Elizabeth Hall.		 {short description of image} {short description of image}
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 Above three pictures show progress once the site was cleared. To the left the site is being prepared for the start of construction of the Royal Festival Hall. The Thames lost some of its width due to the construction of a new embankment walk - something we can still enjoy today. In the picture left the spoil is in place ready for the construction of the new river wall. Pictured right we can see progress on the upstream section of the embankment extension with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in the background. The picture in the centre was taken from County Hall looking down river and shows the massive works for the Dome of Discovery already underway. The railway embankment and bridge that bisected the site giving the 'upstream' and 'downstream' sections can be seen in the background. Beyond that the Shot Tower and Waterloo Bridge mark the downstream limits of the site.    
 The Dome of Discovery was the largest project on the site - it was also the largest dome in the world. Designed by Ralph Tubbs the Dome, which was 365 feet in diameter was constructed of concrete, steel and aluminium. In fact, not only was it the largest dome in the world it was also the largest aluminum structure in existence at that time. The left hand picture shows some of the concrete supports while the right hand shows the progress on the dome in a photograph taken from Hungerford Bridge. County Hall stands behind the Dome.  {short description of image} {short description of image}
 {short description of image}   {short description of image}  {short description of image} To the left the huge Douglas Fir roof trusses are being erected over the Waterloo Station entrance to the site.
The centre picture shows that even during construction the site offered many artistic photographic opportunities.
The picture to the right shows The King and Queen visiting the SouthBank site hoping no doubt to instill some of the 'blitz spirit' into the workforce.
 {short description of image}   The building of the SouthBank site was not without its troubles. Strikes, Royal visits and poor weather conditions all contributed to delays and alterations. However, when needed everyone pulled together and the site was finished in time for the official opening.
The picture left shows a view of the nearly completed downstream section taken from Waterloo Station. The Royal Festival Hall stands proudly behind the much smaller 'Lion & Unicorn' pavilion. Along the road frontage work is progressing on the decorative screening which will stop visitors getting in without paying!
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